Content Area(s): Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering Topic: Search-and-rescue robot design Short description: Scientists studying lizards found they can leap and land successfully, even when they slip, by swinging their tails upward. By adding an actively controlled tail to a robot, engineers created one that could leap and still remain upright.
Claim: Robots with an actively controlled tail might be better for search-and-rescue than those currently in use.
MS-PS2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
MS-PS2-2. Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.
MS-ETS1 Engineering Design
MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/Literacy
RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Topic of Game Introduction Video: Gathering evidence/Methodology Description/Application of Game Introduction Video:
This brief movie is used to introduce the concept of methodology before playing the scenario about rescue robots in the Reason Racer game. Methodology is generally thought to be the procedures used for obtaining scientific evidence. It is a component of scientific argumentation and usually involves good experimental design, good technique for data collection and analysis, etc. It requires students to carefully consider how information used as evidence was collected when making a decision about accepting or rejecting a claim. Before playing the game, students could discuss components of good scientific methodology. Link to Game Introduction Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1HPB140SSw
Full Text of Article:
Scientists believe that dinosaurs' tails didn't drag along the ground, but rather were used to balance their large bodies. Looking at modern-day lizards supports this argument. Researchers for the University of California-Berkeley studied lizards to determine how important tails were to their balance. They believe that learning how tails affect balance in lizards, they can build robots with better balance when they walk.
Biologists set up a track for the lizards to run along. At the end was a small platform that the lizards had to jump onto in order to reach the safety of their shelter. Sometimes the platform was slippery, and sometimes it was sticky. The scientists also tilted it different amounts. By watching slow-motion video, the scientists could figure out how the lizards used their tails to always land on the platform feet-first.
Engineers took this information and built "Tailbot", a robot car with a motorized tail. At first, the scientists had Tailbot try to make a jump with its tail extended but not moving. It crashed every time. Then the engineers allowed Tailbot to move its tail just like a lizard. This time it made the jump perfectly. Even when held in the air and dropped, Tailbot could use the tail to turn and land on its wheels. Using this new information, engineers may be able to make robots that can climb into rubble to look for victims of an earthquake or explosion. "Inspiration from lizard tails will likely lead to far more agile search-and-rescue robots," said team leader Robert J. Full, professor of integrative biology.
Title: Leapin’ Lizards
Content Area(s): Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, EngineeringTopic: Search-and-rescue robot design
Short description: Scientists studying lizards found they can leap and land successfully, even when they slip, by swinging their tails upward. By adding an actively controlled tail to a robot, engineers created one that could leap and still remain upright.
Claim: Robots with an actively controlled tail might be better for search-and-rescue than those currently in use.
Keywords: robot
Difficulty of Concept: hard
Reading Level (Pit Stop 8 Article):
Flesch Reading Ease: 61.8Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 8.4
Lexile: 1000
Next Generation Science Standards:
MS-PS2 Motion and Stability: Forces and InteractionsMS-PS2-2. Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.
MS-ETS1 Engineering Design
MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/LiteracyRST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Vocabulary Words: counterweight, angular momentum, gyroscope
Topic of Game Introduction Video: Gathering evidence/Methodology
Description/Application of Game Introduction Video:
This brief movie is used to introduce the concept of methodology before playing the scenario about rescue robots in the Reason Racer game. Methodology is generally thought to be the procedures used for obtaining scientific evidence. It is a component of scientific argumentation and usually involves good experimental design, good technique for data collection and analysis, etc. It requires students to carefully consider how information used as evidence was collected when making a decision about accepting or rejecting a claim. Before playing the game, students could discuss components of good scientific methodology.
Link to Game Introduction Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1HPB140SSw
Full Text of Article:
Scientists believe that dinosaurs' tails didn't drag along the ground, but rather were used to balance their large bodies. Looking at modern-day lizards supports this argument. Researchers for the University of California-Berkeley studied lizards to determine how important tails were to their balance. They believe that learning how tails affect balance in lizards, they can build robots with better balance when they walk.
Biologists set up a track for the lizards to run along. At the end was a small platform that the lizards had to jump onto in order to reach the safety of their shelter. Sometimes the platform was slippery, and sometimes it was sticky. The scientists also tilted it different amounts. By watching slow-motion video, the scientists could figure out how the lizards used their tails to always land on the platform feet-first.
Engineers took this information and built "Tailbot", a robot car with a motorized tail. At first, the scientists had Tailbot try to make a jump with its tail extended but not moving. It crashed every time. Then the engineers allowed Tailbot to move its tail just like a lizard. This time it made the jump perfectly. Even when held in the air and dropped, Tailbot could use the tail to turn and land on its wheels. Using this new information, engineers may be able to make robots that can climb into rubble to look for victims of an earthquake or explosion. "Inspiration from lizard tails will likely lead to far more agile search-and-rescue robots," said team leader Robert J. Full, professor of integrative biology.
References/Sources:
Additional Content:
Author: KC Carlsen